Hand-held signaling device having manual firing means

ABSTRACT

A hand-held pyrotechnic device having a housing containing a quantity of pyrotechnic material, a primer for igniting the pyrotechnic material, a spring loaded firing pin for detonating said primer and a slidable barrier for restraining the firing pin until the barrier is first slidably moved and then pivotally moved from the path of the firing pin.

United States Patent 1 Dare [451 Oct. 7, 1975 1 HAND-HELD SIGNALING DEVICE HAVING MANUAL FIRING MEANS [75] Inventor: Sherman E. Dare, Wheatland, Ind.

[22] Filed: Apr. 22, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 463,077

[52] U.S. Cl 102/37.4; 42/1 2; 102/378 [51] Int. Cl. F42B 4/26 [58] Field of Search 102/37.4, 31, 37.8, 90; 42/1 Z, 1 R

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,436,751 2/1948 Hammell et a1. 102/37.4 2,455,101 11/1948 Stevens I I 79 ze-sl 45- 1 2,595,939 5/1952 Griffith 102/374 2,889,653 6/1959 Clauser et al.. 42/1 Z 3,167,050 l/1965 Johnson i i 1. 102/90 3,385,163 5/1968 Kotikov i. 102/37.4 3,619,927 1l/l971 Robinet 42/1 Z Primary Examiner-Harvey E. Behrend Assistant Examiner-C. T. Jordan Attorney, Agent, or Firm-R. S. Sciascia; Paul S. Collignon [57] ABSTRACT A hand-held pyrotechnic device having a housing containing a quantity of pyrotechnic material, a primer for igniting the pyrotechnic material, a spring loaded firing pin for detonating saidl primer and a slidable barrier for restraining the firing pin until the barrier is first slidably moved and then p ivotally moved from the path of the firing pin.

4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures l: 22 gas ,26

US. Patent Oct. 7,1975

Sheet 1 of 2 Fig.3

us. Patent oct.7,1975 sheetzofz 3,910,190

l Ml

HAND-HELD SIGNALING DEVICE HAVING MANUAL FIRING MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a hand-held signaling device and more particularly to hand-held signaling device which can be readily actuated by using only one hand.

Various types of hand-held pyrotechnic devices are used by the military departments primarily for signaling purposes. In one type of Navy flare, which is sometimes referred to as a Railroad Warning flare, ignition is made by a friction igniter. One end of the flare is closed by a cover which has an exterior coating of the same abrasive material found on the side of a safety-match box. Beneath the cover is a small cotton wad that protects the friction igniter which is impregnated in a cloth substance covering the pyrotechnic composition. This friction igniter is the same material as is used in the head ofa safety match. The signal is ignited by scraping the inverted cover across the friction igniter.

In another type of friction ignition device, a pull wire is provided to ignite a primer. A sharp, quick pull on a ring moves a friction wire through igniter material and causes ignition thereof, and this igniter material, in turn, ignites either a smoke mixture, for day use, or a pyrotechnic candle, for night use.

While the above-described hand-held ignition devices are still being used by the military departments, reliability is not as good as desired and also ignition of these devices normally require the use of both hands. Accordingly, in the event a person might be in the water and holding onto a raft, or in the event a person might be injured, ignition devices which require the use of both hands are undesirable.

A third, and more sophisticated triggering device, utilizes a spring actuated striker assembly. One such device is shown in US. Pat. No. 3,167,050, which issued Jan. 26, 1965, to Glenn C. Johnson. In this patented device, a striker assembly is maintained in a cocked position by a cover that is slidably attached to the container. The cover can be removed by pushing sideways, and as the cover becomes disengaged, the striker assembly is actuated to ignite a primer which, in turn, ignites the signal producing composition. This de-. vice is constructed so that it can be operated by using only one hand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a container having a smoke-producing composition in one end and a flare composition in the other end. Separate, but identical, ignition devices are provided for each composition. A primer is positioned near the pyrotechnic composition for ignition and a spring loaded firing pin is provided for detonating the primer. A barrier plate or stop is positioned for restraining the firing pin until it is desired to ignite the pyrotechnic composition, whereupon the barrier is first slidably moved in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the firing pin and then pivotally moved to release the firing pin. This dual motion, which can readily be performed by using one-hand, prevents accidental ignition of the device.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide an improved firing device for a handheld pyrotechnic signal.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood be reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 1

FIG. 2 is an end view, with cap removed, and partially in section of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial side view showing a firing pin barrier;

FIG. 4 is a partial side view showing a barrier in a pivotal position;

FIG. 5 is a partial side view showing a barrier in a clearance position; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a finger lever.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing, there is shown a pyrotechnic device for providing both smoke and light. The smoke producing section has an outer container 11 and the light producing section has an outer container 12. The two containers 11 and 12. are enclosed in a cylindrical case 13 and an identification band 14 is placed around container 13 so that the flare section can be identified in the dark. A smoke mixture 15 is provided in container 11 and a flare composition 16 is provided in container 12. By way of example, smoke mixture 15 and flare composition 16 might be formulated as described in US Pat. No. 3,167,050, which issued Jan. 26, 1965, to G. C. Johnson.

Separate ignition devices are provided for the smoke composition and the flare composition, and only the ignition device for smoke composition 15 will be described. As ignition housing 17 is provided in the end of container 11 and is held in position by means of crimp 18. A primer 19 is positioned in housing 17 and a passage 21 is provided in housing 17 so that, upon detonation of primer 19, the heat and flame from primer 19 will ignite smoke mixture 15. A firing pin 22, having a tang 26, is slidably positioned in bore 23 in housing 17 and bore 23 is aligned with the bore that retains primer 19. A spring 24 is provided in bore 23 and is retained by retaining ring 25. Spring 24 engages the end on firing pin 22 opposite to tang 26, and spring 24 provides the driving force so that firing pin 22 can detonate primer 19. A barrier plate 27 is attached to housing 17 by a pin 28 which is attached to arms 31 and 32 on housing 17. Barrier plate 27 is positioned between arms 31 and 32 and pin 28 passes through slot 33 in barrier plate 27 so that barrier plate 27 can travel the length of slot 33. A finger lever 30 is provided on top of barrier plate 27 to facilitate movement of barrier plate 27. Detent holes 34 and 35 are provided in the side of barrier plate 27 and are connected by a relief groove 36 having tapered portions 37 and 38 at the top edge thereof. Tapered portions 41 and 42 surround detent holes 34 and 35, respectively, and the tapered surface 43 of firing pin 22 contacts these tapered surfaces. A safety cover 44 is provided on both ends of container 13 in order to prevent accidental ignition of the pyrotechnic compositions. By way of example, cover 44 might be made of a plastic material and have nodules 45 that engage with a groove 46 formed between container 13 and housing 17.

OPERATION Assuming it is desired to ignite the smoke mixture 15 in container 11, safety cover 44 is removed thereby permitting access to finger lever 30. As barrier plate 27 starts its outward movement, tapered surface 43 which has been engaging tapered portion 41, moves to engage tapered surfaces 37 and 38, thereby slightly compressing spring 24 as firing pin 22 moves slightly outwardly. Barrier plate 27 moves outwardly until pin 28 is at the end of slot 33, as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings, and tapered surface 43 on firing pin 22 is engaged with tapered portion 42 surrounding hole 35. At this point, barrier plate 27 can be pivoted about pin 28 and, during pivoting, tapered portion 43 engages tapered surfaces 47 and 48 that are contiguous to groove 49. When barrier plate 27 pivots about thirty degrees about pin 28, as shown in FIG. of the drawings, barrier plate 27 clears firing pin 22 and spring 24 drives firing pin 22 into primer 19, thereby causing detonation of primer 19. Heat and flame from primer 19 passes through passage 21 and causes ignition of smoke mixture 15.

It can thus be seen that the present invention provides a hand-held signaling device that can be readily ignited by using only one hand. Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. 7

I claim: g I

l. A signaling device comprising,

an outer container,

at least one inner container within said outer container having pyrotechnic composition therein,

an ignition housing in one end of said outer container,

a primer in said ignition housing,

a firing pin slidably mounted in said ignition housing and having a tang on one end adaptable for engaging said primer, and

a barrier plate slidably and pivotally attached to said ignition housing and engageable with the tang end of said firing pin whereby said barrier plate must be first slidably moved and then pivotally moved to release said firing pin for detonating said primer.

2. A signaling device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said barrier plate has a slot therein and having a pin attached to said ignition housing and passing through said slot.

3. A signaling device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said barrier plate has first and second detent holes therein and a groove connecting said detent holes, said firing pin being engageable with said detent holes and said groove.

4. A signaling device as set forth in claim 1 having one inner container of smoke composition and one container of flare composition. 

1. A signaling device comprising, an outer container, at least one inner container within said outer container having pyrotechnic composition therein, an ignition housing in one end of said outer container, a primer in said ignition housing, a firing pin slidably mounted in said ignition housing and having a tang on one end adaptable for engaging said primer, and a barrier plate slidably and pivotally attached to said ignition housing and engageable with the tang end of said firing pin whereby said barrier plate must be first slidably moved and then pivotally moved to release said firing pin for detonating said primer.
 2. A signaling device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said barrier plate has a slot therein and having a pin attached to said ignition housing and passing through said slot.
 3. A signaling device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said barrier plate has first and second detent holes therein and a groove connecting said detent holes, said firing pin being engageable with said detent holes and said groove.
 4. A signaling device as set forth in claim 1 having one inner container of smoke composition and one container of flare composition. 